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Healthy or Unhealthy for the Heart? Meat the Truth

We can all agree that good nutrition is important to live a healthy life. When we think about fruits and vegetables, we never question whether they are healthy or not. Some may have subjective thoughts about their flavor and uses, but I personally have never questioned their nutritional value to our health.

On the other hand, when we talk about MEAT…thoughts scatter and we get mixed emotions about the reality of the health concerns associated with it. Some media outlets have portrayed meat to cause HEART DISEASE, while others inform us that meat is important to consume for optimum health.

So the big question….

Does eating meat increase the risk of heart disease??

NO

According to researchers in the article A Contemporary Review of the Relationship between Red Meat Consumption and Cardiovascular Risk, consuming red meat is putting people at risk of heart disease because it has been related to high saturated fats and cholesterol content. Even after nutritionist and doctors recommended a diet with lean meat, it was still found to have high amounts of saturated fats that were still putting people at risk (Bronzato, 2017).

The most significant factors in meat that determine heart disease are:

sodium levels

specific fats

additives used to preserve the meat

Why Sodium? Our bodies require sodium for our nerves and muscles to function properly by controlling blood pressure and maintaining a balance in our bodily fluids, but too much of it increases blood pressure, which increases the chances of heart disease. Aside from meat, other foods that include high sodium levels are:

Why Fats? Fats are also essential to our diets, because they provide the body with energy, help make hormones and also help the body absorb certain vitamin which allow our bodies to function at their highest. However, there are different fats and it is important to understand what they are to make better dietary choices and avoid getting heart disease.

*** Saturated fats: these types of fats raise something that is called low-density protein (LDL). This is the type of cholesterol you want to avoid, because it is the high one that may put a person at risk of heart disease. Saturated fats are mainly found in meat, dairy products, fried food and baked goods.

*** Trans fat: this is the type of fat that we consume when cooking with oils. These fats are what give food a better tasting quality and preserve the shelf live of cooked food. Unfortunately, just because it makes the food taste good doesn’t mean it is good for our bodies. Trans fat also increases out low-density cholesterol (LDL), which increases the risk of heart disease. This type of fat is also found in meat, but it is mainly found in baked goods, fried food and snacks.

These two types of fats are mentioned, because they are the most commonly consumed by people and are what set the action of an increased heart rate, leading to heart disease if not managed.

The Unprocessed Red and Processed Meats and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease and Type Diabetes article, states that regardless of this information, studies found that high consumption of sodium, fats and processed food can lead to heart disease, but research has also determined that red meat itself in a diet does not increase the risk of the disease– a combination of unhealthy consumptions do. People should be aware of the overall effect food can play on their health and should reduce the amount of processed food to maintain good health.

Although studies on this research reported that the consumption of meat can play a part in developing heart disease, researchers also debunked the myth that eating meat alone cannot cause heart disease. A combination of a persons dietary choices and level of activity is what determines overall health and meat just happens to be the main factor involved (Micha, 2012).

Why is Meat is Unhealthy?

As we continue searching for the truth about meat, videos like the one above strictly focus on what meat itself can do to a persons health, which is what misleads people into thinking that’s the only problem. This video disregarded all other factors of a persons lifestyle that may be contributing to the disease development and focused only on educating the public on the components that can make meat unhealthy.

According to the article Health Risks Associated with Meat Consumption, evidence was found in the connection between meat consumption and life style factors that contributed to a person developing and dying from heart disease (Richi, 2015).

Although it is true that meat is a great source of nutrients, proteins, vitamin A, Bs, iron and zinc, researchers also claims that not consuming meat can deprive us from these essentials and create other health risks. Moderation in meat consumption along with a diet that involves fruits and vegetables is what researchers recommend to live a healthy life.

Is Meat Good or Bad for you?

This Video is interesting, because it points out important factors that are not biased, such as:

Overall diet should be taken into consideration when determining health patterns (sugar and redefined carb intake) and highly processed fat.

Good research on diet is hard to do, because researchers are not studying the right people. Instead studies are made on people who drink/smoke, overeat and were not very active.

People who ate less meat on studies were healthier, because people who were more health conscious lowered their meat consumption due to the skepticism of meat and took better care of themselves.

This video does a good job in expanding our thoughts as to why people are more prone to develop heart disease based on their overall lifestyle choices rather than just focusing on their dietary choices. It provides a different perspective, but ultimately adds to the confusion of whether or not eating meat causes heart disease.

Overall, it is safe to say that research has determined two facts– Meat consumption can play a key role in the development of heart disease, but the though that meat alone is the cause of disease is not true. The studies have proved that a persons poor choice in food is what will ultimately lead a person to illness. What we choose to consume will consume us.

This article explains the role of non- pharmacologic ( natural and drug free medicine) therapies and pharmacologic ( prescription and over- the – counter medication) therapies in the management of osteoarthritis.

Natural and drug free medicine include:

weight reduction through diet and exercise

Correction of malalignment of the joints of the joints with used of braces

Prescription and over – the – counter medications include:

Medications that can be taken by mouth.

Medications in the form of topical ( can be applied on the surface of the joints: cream, gels, lotions, or ointments)

Injections

Surgery: minor or major surgery

This article supports this media video; both the media video and this source report similar treatment methods for the management of osteoarthritis. Therefore, I find this information on the media video to be credible.

Osteoarthritis is the fastest growing cause of disability. Individuals with this condition may take some control of their own condition by making a change in their diet which could potentially ease the symptoms and reduce the progression of the disease.

These are some of the recommendations:

Lose weight, if overweight, through exercise.

Reduce high cholesterol food.

Increase omega- 3 fatty acids; eat oily fish times a week.

Eat rich vitamin- D food- milk

Increase vitamin-K intake by eating green leafy vegetables.

This article supports the video on the proper diet for individuals with osteoarthritis; however, the author did not make any suggestions on the type of diet that should be avoided. I would recommend this media video as credible.

Media Video

This media video claims there is a cure for osteoarthritis. The treatment is to stop eating dairy products such as milk and cheese.

How many times have you had to turn your car around because you forgot your wallet. Or how many times have you had to remind your mother that her doctor’s appointment is Tuesday, not Thursday. As we get older so do our brains. It is normal to become more forgetful as we age, but when does slight confusion become something more dangerous? With humans living longer and longer, diseases such as Alzheimer’s are becoming more common. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are over 5.7 million Americans living with this disease. Although Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia other factors such as heart disease and strokes can cause this as well.

Dementia is not a disease in itself. Instead, it is a cluster of symptoms. These symptoms vary from person to person however, the defining symptom is a gradual decline of brain function. This may begin with some increased confusion, your grandmother may forget where she left her recipe book even if it has never been moved. A year later you may realize that grandma has been eating expired food unknowingly. Eventually your grandmother will need help performing basic tasks such as brushing teeth, as her mind has forgotten how to. Although this memory loss is the most common and prevalent symptom, many sufferers also have personality changes that can cause a complete change of character. These changes can cause a nun to curse like a sailor, or a sailor to become a quiet, docile man. Behavioral symptoms can also change the normal behavior from a person with dementia. These symptoms range from hallucinations (sensing things that are not there), delusions (believing things that are not true), depression, anxiety, and agitation.

Dementia is more serious than your typical old-age forgetfulness and requires immediate attention. Dementia is often under-represented in the media and the image presented is typically underplayed. Many Hollywood movies that feature older adults with dementia, show a pleasantly confused woman who is brought back with stories from the past. A key example of this is the much loved film, “The Notebook.” In this film, a love story between a young Ryan Gosling and Rachel Mcadams unfolds. The ending of this movie is so touching because it shows the much older husband reading their story to the wife with dementia. Upon the end of the story the wife realizes that he is her husband and they have one final night together.

In reality however, those with dementia are unable to simply ‘snap’ out of their confusion. It is possible for these people to have moments of clarity, but these are far and few inbetween. Expecting that by reminding them of past memories will lead to curing or even pausing their confusion will lead to a lot of heartbreak.

Although The Notebook is one of the most popular movies with dementia as a theme, Still Alice is 2015 movie that shows the struggles of living with early-onset dementia. This movie accurately shows the physical and emotional toll that this disease can cause on a person. This clip is an accurate demonstration of what living with dementia is like.

Alice is shown talking to her husband. Initially we notice that she confuses herself and her daughter as her mother and sister. This is very common among many of those with dementia as they may think they are much younger than they are because their long term memory is more intact then their short term. The major event in this clip however is Alice getting lost in her home. This shows the extent to which memory loss occurs. Alice becomes so anxious over not being able to find the bathroom in her own home that she eventually messes herself. This heartbreaking scenario is life for many with dementia.

Although there is no cure for dementia, there are medications available that can help slow the progression of the disease. Early detection is crucial in order to help your loved ones. The biggest sign to look out for is memory loss that impacts their daily life. If your grandmother forgets your birthday, it is probably age-related confusion. However, if your grandmother wishes you a “Happy fifth birthday!” there is a chance it could be dementia related.

This video shows an accurate depiction of an early sign of Alzheimer’s. The mother is fixated on the purple scarf and can not sleep because she does not remember where it came from. Episodes like this become increasingly more common and more dangerous and the dementia progresses.

If someone you know is showing the warning signs of dementia, please urge them to get tested by a trained doctor. Early detection and treatment can lead to extra years of memory and health. If you need more resources please visit The Alzheimer’s Association at: https://www.alz.org/

Ladies it is time to talk about you. This is not something to brush away. This is about you and your future. Your heart health is something to take on a serious note. Ladies, you do not have typical chest pain majority of the time when it comes to heart distress. The woman in this video is experiencing typical chest pain associated with a myocardial infarction, otherwise known as heart attack.

This video is seen to be what some people go through for a typical heart attack. They get sweaty, have some fullness in their arms, pain in their chest and jaw, as well as some indigestion. When a person has a heart attack, the arteries on the muscle spasm and cause decrease blood flow to the cells of the heart, causing cell death. After a cardiac cell has died, it will not be replaced. The quicker to go into the hospital to be treated the better(Samoraphop Banharak, Zahrli, T., & Hisako Matsuo, 2018). This next video is educational. It explains what are possible signs and symptoms of a typical heart attack.

When someone says chest pain, we think something is wrong with the heart. However, in some instances, chest pain is only felt in about 75 to 80% of the patients having a heart attack. Some have flu-like symptoms, such as physical discomfort, nausea, vomiting, fever, malaise, lethargy, weakness, and fatigue. Then there are some symptoms that are not typical like altered level of consciousness, inability to sleep, and sexual disfunction (Soares Passinho, Garcia Romero Sipolatti, Fioresi, & Caniçali Primo, 2018). This next video is about the silent heart attacks. This is what most women and diabetics tend to experience when experiencing a heart attack.

Because of the silent heart attacks that women experience, they do not seek help afterwards because they were unaware the event was related to their heart. Women are also less likely to care for themselves if they have a family. They have a partner to take care of, be it husband or boyfriend, wife or girlfriend, their children. They also care for the household chores, make dinner at night, ensure their children are bathed daily. Women do not feel they have enough time for themselves (Gyberg, Björck, Nielsen, Määttä, & Falk, 2016).

NEWS FLASH WOMEN–you need to take care of yourself and your heart health so you can take care of your family and your house.

What is Sensory Integration? organizing, and interpreting sensations to optimize occupational performance and participation (AOTA,2015)<a Senses: 1.Vestibular-providing us with information about the position of our heads and bodies in space- spatial awareness 2.Proproceptive- Provides a sense of what our bodies are doing and where our body parts are in relation to the environment. 3.Tectile- Touch 4.Auditory- Sound 5.Visual- Sight 6.Gustatory- Taste 7.Olfactory- Smell

How do I know if my child with ASD has difficulty processing his/her sensory input? See the link below !

The media clip below was based out of a school in Hanover Elementary School. The school had made a clip explaining the benefits of using the sensory room to help children diagnosed with ASD focus and learn. Take a look !

According the the article Sensory-Based Approaches in Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Influences on Occupational Therapists’ Recommendations and Perceived Benefits, Occupational Therapist used an online survey addressing their work experience, training, use of sensory-based approaches, and beliefs and perceptions about the effects of the approaches. The results showed that Most respondents (98%) used sensory-based approaches for children with ASD and would recommend the approaches for 57% of the children they treat.

This clip is an information video from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The video explains providing structured sensory experiences help organize a child’s body to increase learning. Take a look!

According to the article: Efficacy of Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration, the results showed positive outcomes for improving individually generated goals of functioning and participation as measured by goal attainment scaling for children with autism.

The media clip below comes from the Medical Minute. This news clip talked about a child diagnosed with ASD using sensory integration therapy during Occupational Therapy to improve independence. The OT explained the child’s difficulty with processing sensory information. The OT explains strategies provided in the treatments. Mom reports since participating in these treatments, her child is functioning much better in his environment. Take a look !

According the the article: A Retrospective Pre-Post Treatment Study of Occupational therapy Intervention for Children with Sensory Processing Challenges, the results showed Improvements in adaptive behavior, problem behaviors, sensory-related functions, and measures of motor function.

The truth about Zumba you’ve been dying to find out!I am here to enlighten you on the effects that Zumba has on our mind and body. Through research and personal experience, I am eager to share with you the world of Zumba fitness.Zumba is a highly talked about exercise program that combines dancing, Latin music and exercise. Various media reports support this progressing style of exercise that has tons of benefits, however, there are a few sources that report on the risks it might have.

“When I saw Zumba for the first time, the thing that struck me the most was that everybody was smiling. Happiness seemed to be the objective of the workout, with fitness as the result.” -Zumba CEO Alberto Perlman

Here are just a handful of key benefits of Zumba:

Weight loss, keeps you active and moving

Burn 600-1,000 calories in 1 hour

Tones your body, build endurance & strength

Improves heart health

Helps you de-stress

Improves coordination

Anyone can do it –

Proven to reduce negative symptoms of anxiety and depression

It’s fun! You can meet new friends

Personally, I have been doing Zumba for about 6 years now and I love it. The best part about it is that it doesn’t feel like you are working out. Having a gym partner is also very helpful for motivation in getting to the gym. Mine happens to be my mom! We are each others biggest supporters and we have so much fun together.

Check out this inspiring story who express how Zumba changed their lives! When doing my research, I found it hard to come across any stories or articles that did not support Zumba fitness being valid method of weight loss and improving one’s quality of life.

Although there are many comments about how great Zumba is, ABC13 News Channel reports that Zumba is a fitness class where injuries and incidents can happen. It is important to engage in this exercise with proper shoes, attire and in a safe environment. Stretching after any workout is very important for muscle recovery. Most importantly, listen to your body!

The Zumba craze! There are a variety of speakers that state how much Zumba has changed their lives for the better. Some members husbands have jumped on board and state that it is better than a Friday outing. Some members say they don’t want the class to end. It is very culturally diverse and for anyone looking to improve their health and well-being.

This new clip talks about Zumba after the holidays for people looking to lose weight. Members of the Zumba classes speak on behalf of the fitness style, stating that it is way better than the typical exercise machines. Zumba is a high energy party that incorporates dancing, however, that should not intimidate you. It can be completed by all different types of people at different levels of fitness. Man, woman, young or old, it is a great way to burn calories while having fun.

Comparing what I have found in the news and through thorough research, it is safe to say that Zumba is definitely a powerful fitness program that can help you lose weight, get in shape and improve your mind and body. There are injuries that can happen, which is why it is very important to wear proper shoes and read up on anything else you might have questions about. It is helpful to consult with other people who are experienced in Zumba fitness.References:

After you have a total hip replacement, your doctor usually recommends certain hip precautions to prevent dislocation of the new hip. Rehabilitation after hip surgery focuses on reducing pain, increasing the range of motion, strengthening exercises, and regaining mobility to improve the quality of life. Moreover, utilizing assistive devices in self-care tasks is helpful to maintain hip precautions and avoid some common complications such as dislocation. By: Franciscan Health

What is total hip replacement (THR)?

Total hip replacement is a surgical procedure that removes the painful hip joint and replaces it with man-made components. It produces better pain relief, functional recovery, and substantial quality of life improvement (Spalević, Milenković, & Kocić, 2018).

This movie clip shows a guy with low vision driving a car. He shows demonstrates good driving skills for someone with low vision. However, this is not safe and would not happen in real life. Living with low vision does not mean you have to stop driving. There are different visual glasses and contacts that can help increase vision.

Movie clip 2

Working is an important milestone in peoples lives. Having low vision should not impact this. There are jobs and companies looking to hire people with low vision. You can work with a job coach, occupational therapy or caseworkers to help find the right job. Modifications and adaptions can increase your independence in completing job tasks.

People with low vision use their other senses to get around and adapt to their environment. This media clips show that people change how they feel when they meet someone with low vision. We feel bad for them when they just want to be treated fairly. Having low vision is not a noticeable disability, you might not even know that someone has low vision. Not everyone uses a walking cane, as the man did in this movie clip.

Movie clip 2 was the only reputable source and accurate information. Movie clip 1 and 3 were from movies and are staged. I think most of us can relate to the movie clip 3. We tend to change our feels and feel bad or sympathize when someone doesn’t appear to be “normal”.

Should the Flu Vaccine be mandatory for healthcare workers?

The flu vaccine is recommended annually (each year) for persons at high risk for serious complications from influenza virus infection.

Forty two percent of people worry about getting the flu each year. The majority of people get sick, and automatically think they have the flu virus. The video below describes the symptoms that come with the flu, and what symptoms are usually just a common cold.

What are the stats?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conduct studies annually has found immunization reduces the risk of flu illness by 40 percent to 60 percent.

Older people with weaker immune systems often have a lower protective immune response after flu vaccination compared to younger, healthier people.

In 2015-2016 the vaccine prevented 52.4% of flu cases

In 2016-2017 the vaccine prevented 39.8% of flu cases

The numbers are significantly down in long term facilities with elderly patients being affected by influenza.

Flu vaccines have been given for more than 50 years, and have a safe track record.

Benefits and facts of the flu vaccine

Receiving the vaccine helps stop the spread of the influenza virus, and this is extremely important with the elderly, children, pregnant woman, and people with medical conditions. The flu virus is contagious two days before having any symptoms which gives two days for the virus to be spread without knowing. Even if the vaccine doesn’t completely prevent the flu, it may lessen the severity of your illness and the risk of serious complications.